Hand stamps



July 26, 1960 c. B. HUPPERT 2,946,279

HAND STAMPS Filed Aug. 8, 1958 S 72 11mm 1/6 H m J l i 'numb/2 United States HAND STAMPS Charles B. Huppert, 1336 W. Birchwood Ave., Chicago, lll.

Filed Aug. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 754,075

Claims. (Cl. lill-103) This invention relates to improvements in hand stamps.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide .a hand stamp with a independent printing unit which is detachably secured to the suporting frame to permit ready attachment and detachment of the printing unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hand stamp, including self-inking hand stamps and numbering machines in which the printing unit is detachably secured to the holder.

Present day hand stamps, particularly self-inking hand stamps are provided with printing units which are either permanently secured to the main supporting frame and form an integral part of the hand stamp or can only be detached by practically dismantling the unit. Thus, for every different size and style of printing type desired either the entire assembly must be substantially dismantled or a complete separate printing unit is required. Moreover, in self-inking hand stamps the printing unit must constantly be replaced due to hard usage which makes it necessary for new printing units to be installed. This is all eliminated by this invention, as there is provided a holder which will detachably suport any one `of a plurality of different types of printing units. The printing units are readily attachable to the holder when desired and detachable therefrom for replacement or substitution by another printing unit. Thus, with one holder an iniinite number of printing units may be used as desired, thereby reducing the cost of the same, as well as reducing the necessary storage space therefor.

, Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses. l

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view p-artly in section of the hand stamp embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in cross-section taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the position of the printing unit prior to attachment to its depressible supporting frame, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in cross-section taken on lines 4 4 of Fig. l.

The unit includes a main 4base frame generally indicated at 10, having a pair of narrow side members 12 connected by a top cross-member 14 to which is secured al sleeve 16. The side members 12 of the main frame have a widened portion 18 which extends to the bottom of the side members 12 and secured to the bottom of the side members 12 is a bottom plate 20 having a central rectangular opening 22 through which the printing head descends for printing, as is well understood.

The plate 20 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures on each side of the central opening and a pair of rubber gaskets 24 are secured thereto by engagement of the tits 25 on the gaskets with said openings.

Supported on said main base frame is a depressible sub-frame generally indicated at 26, of inverted U shape, having a pair of spaced side members 28 and a top connecting transverse member 30. Secured to the top of the transverse member 30 is a tubular stem 32 which extends upwardly through the sleeve 16 and has a knob or handle 34 aixed to the top thereof. Supported inside the tubular stem 32 is a coil spring 3 6, the bottom of which rests on a manually slideable cross-pin 38 secured to the sleeve 16 and the top of the spring rests against the inside of the top of the stem 32 to normally urge the tubular stem 32 and depressible sub-frame 26 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, to maintain the printing unit in non-printing position. The tubular stern 32 is provided with opposed vertical slots 33 which ride in the pin 38. One of the Vertical `slots 33 has a pair of spaced enlarged recesses 33a and 33b which are adapted Pivotally secured as by a pin 44 to each of the sides 28 of the depressible frame 26 is a link 46, the opposite end of each link being pivotally secured as at 48 to the ink pad carrier generally indicated at 50. The ink pad carrier 50 has at each of its opposite sides an Aupward extension 52 whereby it is pivotally secured as at 54 to the widened sides 18 of the side members 12 of main frame 10. The ink pad 56 is supported in a metal housing 57 and the housing carries a threaded stud 58 which passes through a slot 59in the ink pad carrier. A nut 60 secured to the stud detachably secures the ink pad to the carrier.

When the knob 34 and stern 32 is depressed, the de-I pressible frame 26 connected thereto is depressed and through downward movement of the links 46 causes theY ink pad carrier 50 to swing out away from engagement with the type wheels of the printing unit, to be described. When the knob 34 is released, the spring 36 will cause the stem 32 to elevate with respect to the main frame 10, moving the depressible frame 26 upwardly to pivot the ink pad carrier 50 back to its normal horizontal position, as shown in Fig. l, against the printing Wheels. The structure comprising the main frame, the depressible frame and the operation of the ink pad carrier are conventional in present day hand stamps. The features com; pn'sing this invention will now be described.

The sides 28 of the depressible sub-frame 26, as best shown in Fig. 3, adjacent thel bottom thereof are each provided with a horizontal channel or track 62elosed at the rear thereof as at 64 and open at the front thereof. Each of the sides 28 above the channelor track 62 is provided with a small opening 64. The track 62 Yis adapted to receive the printing unit to be described and the openings 64 are adapted to receive the depressible extension pins on such printing unit for detachably locking the printing unit to the depressible sub-frame 26. f f

The printing unit, generally indicated at 66is composed of a frame having side members 68 connected by a bottom cross-member 70. A shaft 72 extends between the upper portions of the side members 68 and carries the several rotatable spools 74 over which the several continuous type bands 76 pass and extend therefrom beneath the bottom cross-member 70, as is Well understood. The side members 68 of the printing unit frameV each has a rib 78 and a lateral lip 80 a-t the front thereof. Each of the side members 68 is provided with a small opening `82 above the rib 78. A spring actuated plunger generally indicated at 84 is adapted to be supported in the openings 82. The spring actuated plunger84 comprises a cylindrical member 86 closed'at one end and provided with a pin exber of said printing unit and adapted to engage the opening in the spaced side member of said depressible frame -to detachably lock said printing unit to said depressible frame member, said depressible frame when depressed having its opening alined with the opening of 5 the side member of the base frame .to permit engagement `with the spring biased member to move same out of engagement with the opening in the depressible frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Comstock Nov. 10, 1903 Uhrig Aug. 13, 1906 Fossenkemper Aug. 31, 1915 McArdle Dec. 1, 1931 Jan et a1. June 18, 1935 

